How Are You Spending Your Emotional Energy?

I went to a weekend long seminar on the subject of wealth and the kind of mindset that creates it.  It was full of excellent information on how the wealthy tend to think about money versus how the rest of us think about it.  Boy did it explain some things about my own financial picture but that is another story.

One thing that really stuck however, was about doing more with less, or the concept of leverage.  One area it made me think of was that of time management.  I’m certain I’m not alone in wishing I could accomplish more while spending less time doing it.  And I thought of all the upsets, the things that don’t quite go as I want them to, and the distractions that intrude in a typical day. 

And I thought of how much time I, and many people, waste by giving our energy to emotional drama that keeps us from applying ourselves to something more productive.  You know, you read the newspaper and read the latest political shenanigans in Washington and get upset and stay that way all day.  Or, you find out one of your colleagues pulled what you consider a fast one that has left you holding some office hot potato.  And you think about it, and create conversations in your head, and steam and stew over it.  Maybe you even go home and regale your spouse with the story.  Or, someone cut you off rudely in traffic and you felt upset half the morning because of it. 

I’ve worked to improve in that area and have made lots of progress, but boy oh boy, do I sometimes still get upset about a situation and then nurse that grievance much longer than I should.  And while I’m holding on to it, that energy is unavailable to use to accomplish something important to me. 

Learning which things to let go of is so important to balance.  If you can’t control or change it (or, you’re not willing to try to change it), then there is not much use in giving it your energy.  That situation has then won because it has co-opted your energy.  I have a friend who has some definite political views and is often incensed at what she sees going on.  She spends a lot of emotional energy being upset.  Wouldn’t that energy be better spent becoming more politically active and working to change what she doesn’t like?  Or, simply letting it go and turning her attention to doing something that benefits her.

We all fall victim to this and it doesn’t add quality to our lives.  It isn’t healthy for us.  And, it takes valuable time and energy that could be spent on something that feeds us instead of drains us.

Where could you create more time and energy for yourself by letting go?

Allison Allen is Founder of WomenBloom.com, a web community inspiring and supporting women to make the most of midlife.